Reflections on “Easter Possibilities: Witnessing” Acts 1: 6-14

The focus of the sermon was the text detailing Jesus' ascension to heaven.  I struggled all week with how to approach the sermon.  Finally, John Holbert's comment about there being no Ascension Day cards struck a chord with me and led to a framework for the sermon.   I don't think I preached on the Ascension text for the first 25 years of ministry, but now have touched on it 3 of the last 5 years.

“Easter Possibilities:  Witnessing” April 16, 2023; SAPC, Denton; Dr. Richard B. Culp; Acts 1: 6-14

Introduction:  last week of Easter possibilities, then next week Pentecost.  wear red; be gracious to our guest preacher Chris Lee, General Presbter for Grace Presbytery.

Then, the next week is the Clergy Renewal event with David Gambrell as our guest for the weekend.   He works in the office of Theology and Worship

a catered Italian dinner Saturday night and gathering around our Lord’s Table Sunday.  

Now, another story about Easter possibilities.

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Move 1:  The story we read in Acts is about Jesus' ascension.

a.  Let’s track how the story got to this point.

1. We could go back to creation when God called the earth into being;  

or we could go to Jesus’ birth

both critical events leading up to this story.

2. But more recently we remember that Jesus started ministry among the people

he called disciples to follow him

he healed

he taught

he showed compassion

he invited all sorts of people to new ways of living

he battled with the authorities, both the religious and Roman leaders

4.  then, Crucified on a cross

Buried in a tomb.

Women discover the empty tomb.

5. Suddenly, the resurrected Christ moves among the followers

appearing to them by moving through closed doors

eating breakfast with them on the beach

8.  I suspect the disciples are thinking to themselves:  “This resurrected Christ is an amazing guy.  We’ll keep having out with him until God restores the kingdom.”

Surely, that’s what they had in mind when they ask, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”

9. But, then in a surprising turn of events, Jesus is lifted up, a cloud taking him out of their sight.

the ascension of Christ has taken place.

b.  Ascension Day was on Thursday, exactly 40 days after Easter.

1.  We mostly miss that day.

2.  True confessions:  I was at Kroger last Saturday night, not last night, but the Saturday night before Mother’s Day, rather late.

not just getting the food for the Mother’s Day cookout the next day, but looking for a Mother’s Day card. (John Holbert introduced me to the idea of an Ascension Day card), 

(https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/speculators-or-witnesses-john-holbert-05-14-2012)

I was not the only one there.  I had to wait for a couple of men to make their selections, and then waiting behind me were what appeared to be a couple of sons and another husband.

I am not sure if it was because I was there later the night before or what, but the selection was not very good (my wife Leslie can vouch for the fact that I did not find a very good card).

At one point, I went looking in other sections of cards heaping to find something that would work.

I found birthday cards, wedding cards, engagement cards, sympathy cards, or no reason, just wanted to send cards….

Do you know what I did not find?  An Ascension Day card - Hallmark has missed their opportunity!

I was thinking about that this week and came up with a couple of cards that might work for Ascension Day.

move 1:   First Ascension Day card:   Jesus climbing a ladder, or maybe walking up a grand staircase with a red carpet or gold carpet, walking toward the heavens - Jesus looks back down to earth and says, “I’m going up, but you’re not!”

a.  The disciples are left on earth.

1. No resurrected Christ with them.

2. Just the promise of the Holy Spirit.

3.  We continue in that tradition. 

b.  I suspect the disciples would have been happy to spend their time focused on when Christ will return.

1.  It might be easier to get lost in the debate about when Christ will return than deal with the reality of the world in which we live.

2.  John Holbert, notes that It is far safer, far less demanding, to be a speculator [about when Jesus will return] Speculators write books of calculations, hold seminars that attract thousands, rake in untold piles of loot, while prognosticating a certain time for Jesus' return.

4. it might have been a good job for the disciples.

3.  But, as they gaze up to the heavens beginning their calculations, two men in white robes appear and ask them, “Why do you stand looking up toward heaven.”

4.  As if to say, “Jesus may be in heaven, but you are still here on earth.”

5. As Christ’s followers.

as the ones to carry on what Jesus has said and done.

as the ones who will be filled with the Holy Spirit and given what they need to do what Christ sends them into the world to do.

6.  That is who we are - the people God has called and empowered to be Christ’s body on earth, to continue his work.

7. that is why the Ascension story is immediately followed by a scene in Jerusalem:  the followers gathered together;

naming the names

adding the women to their number.

8. they are preparing to go out and live into the task of being Christ’s followers in the world after Christ has ascended to heaven.

Move 2: This leads me to a second Ascension Day card I did not find last week:  

Jesus above the clouds leaning down with his hands pushing through the clouds, holding a cell phone on which he is clearly typing a message.

And the followers on earth holding their cell phones above their heads so they can see their screens and Jesus looking down at them.h

on their cell phones screens is written the message: “You are my witnesses!”

 

a.  We heard Jesus tell the disciples, tell us:  “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (NRSV)

1.  As Holbert notes that, “We have been asked to be "his witnesses" to the world, not his calculators for his return.” John Holbert (https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/speculators-or-witnesses-john-holbert-05-14-2012)

1. ….witness to the truth of the gospel: the truth of justice for the whole world, the love of enemies, and the care for the marginalized and outcast. As Acts 1 makes so clear, the world needs far fewer speculators and far more witnesses. John Holbert (https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian/speculators-or-witnesses-john-holbert-05-14-2012)

     1. To witness in Jerusalem is to share with friends and family; the neighborhood.

2.  In our context, it means witnessing to Rowan, who is being baptized this morning, telling her the stories of what God has done, 

the stories of Jesus Christ.

witness to him by being a church that reaches out to those in need

being a church that speaks about the injustice in the world.

     2. To witness in Judea – the Judeans, people of our own faith tradition; in other words, people who look, think, and act like us

     3. Samaria – witness people we do not like; 

we remember that the Samaritans were the distant cousins who became the enemy, the other people generations ago.

      4. Witness to the ends of the earth – all the world; Nobody gets left out. 

and we are not off the hook as witnesses until all have heard the good news.

b. We hear this call to be witnesses knowing that in the next chapter, we will read about Pentecost.

      1. Pentecost when the Spirit sweeps among the people, they are given the gift of language so that they can in the language of the people in whose country they will go.

      2.  That means that God will equip us to be witnesses, whether we are witnessing in Jerusalem or to the ends of the earth

     3.  whether we need the gift of language or some other gift, God will provide what we need to be witnesses.

conclusion:  Final Ascension Day card - Jesus seated at the right hand of God.

the quote bubble has these words: “I’m not done yet.”

Jesus in heaven, not resting on his laurels, but leading the church, 

leading us.

Calling us to Easter possibilities made possible only by the God of resurrection.

Reflections on “Easter Possibilities: Forgiving” Acts 7: 55-60

I have never preached on this story from Acts (or at least I do not recall preaching on it!).  Very powerful story.  Given the mass shooting at Allen, Texas on Saturday,  I contemplated pulling the illustration about the school shooting in PA.  I thought it might be too raw.  But, Sunday morning as I preached the sermon with the illustration in it, I decided it would not be a negative.

“Easter Possibilities:  Forgiving” May 7, 2023; SAPC, Denton; Dr. Richard B. Culp; Acts 7: 55-60

⁵⁴When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. ⁵⁵But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

Introduction:  What a story!

You remember Stephen?  Remember, Stephen was one of the seven picked to take care of the widows and the orphans, to do pastoral care.

He apparently does more than that as evidenced by the speech he has just given.  YOu can go back and read it, but here is Frederick Buechner’s description of Stephen’s speech:  

Stephen made them a long speech, the gist of which was that from year one the Jews had always been an ornery lot, "stiff-necked," he said, and circumcised as all get-out in one department, but as cussed and mean as everybody else in all the others (Acts 7:51). They'd given Moses a hard time in the wilderness, he said, and there hadn't been a saint or prophet since whom they hadn't had it in for. The way they'd treated Jesus was the last and worst example of how they were always not just missing the boat, but doing their damnedest to sink it. The authorities were naturally enraged and illustrated the accuracy of Stephen's analysis of them by taking him out and stoning him to death. (https://www.frederickbuechner.com/quote-of-the-day/2018/11/11/stephen?rq=stephen)

A brutal story - stoning; literally raining stones down upon Stephen until he dies.  

The pile of coats give evident to the physical nature of a stoning. Hot and sweaty, so they had to remove their coats and it also allowed them to not be restricted in their throwing motion. 

it was hard work to stone a person to death.

A lot of suffering and horrific death for the person being stoned.

A Powerful story that ties back to Jesus on the cross - like Christ on the cross, Stephen is unjustly killed.

Like Christ on the cross, Stephen asks God the forgive those who are killing him.

Story with Easter possibilities - can you imagine forgiveness like Stephen extends to those who are stoning him?

Only possible because Stephen lives in a world transformed by the God of resurrection.

Move 1:   We awaken today to news of another mass shooting.  This time just down the road in Allen.  Seemingly a weekly, if not daily occurrence.

This week, I was reflecting on a similar tragedy that unfolded in October 2006 at the West Nickel Mines School, an Amish one-room schoolhouse in the Old Order Amish community of Nickel Mines, a village in Bart Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[1][2][3]   It was in the same region where I served my previous church, so we heard quite a bit about it.

Gunman Charles Carl Roberts IV took hostages and shot ten girls (aged 6–13), killing five, before committing suicide in the schoolhouse.

It would have made the news for its senseless tragedy, but it also made news for the response of the Amish community.

they chose to follow the path of forgiveness.

On the day of the shooting, the grandfather of one of the murdered Amish girls was heard warning some young relatives not to hate the killer, 

Those in the Amish community chose to care for the families whose children had been killed, but also to reach out to the family of the shooter.   

an Amish neighbor comforted the shooter’s family hours after the shooting and extended forgiveness to them.^[17] Amish community members visited and comforted Roberts' widow, parents, and parents-in-law. One Amish man held Roberts' sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him.^[18] 

About 30 members of the Amish community attended Roberts' funeral.

Marie Roberts, the mother of the shooter,  wrote an open letter to her Amish neighbors thanking them for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy. She wrote, "Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world...."^[20]

as you might guess, Some commentators criticized the quick and complete forgiveness with which the Amish responded, arguing that forgiveness is inappropriate when no remorse has been expressed, and that such an attitude runs the risk of denying the existence of evil,^[22][23][24] 

Others were supportive and pointed to the forgiveness Jesus offered to those who crucified him.

They explained that the Amish willingness to forgo vengeance does not undo the tragedy or pardon the wrong, but rather constitutes a first step toward a future that is more hopeful.^[27][28] life?  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_school_shooting)

in the aftermath of the shooting, they razed the one-room school house.

They built a new school nearby; one of the goals was to make the new school look very different than the old one where the tragedy had taken place.

Moving into the future transforming the world as they saw it.  

Moving into the future, transformed by forgiveness.

Easter possibilities from the God of resurrection.

Move 2: On this communion Sunday, when we come to our Lord’s Table, I am reminded a story my supervisor liked to tell years ago when I served with him.

It has stuck with me all these years.

HIs first pastorate was in a small town in MN.  he told a story about the Lutheran church in town.  

It had two  two Swede brothers in a  Lutheran church in Minnesota get into an argument. They do not reconcile for two years.  they still worship in the same sanctuary every week, but sit on opposite sides of the church and do not talk or make eye contact.

Everyone in town knows about the ongoing issue between the two brothers.

One Sunday as the congregation begins to process forward for communion, the minister announces that he won’t serve communion to the brothers until they are reconciled.  

The congregation is stunned.  The brothers embrace and fall on the floor crying.

then, they stand up and come to the communion table together.

Easter possibilities from the God of resurrection.

Move 3:  A final thought - as Stephen forgives those who are stoning him to death, Saul is there.

Saul is a professed persecutor of Christians. 

Saul is watching over the coats of those who were doing the stoning.

He is there to participate in the persecution of Stephen.

While he is there, he receives Stephen’s gracious forgiveness.

Saul will become Paul, his life transformed on the road to Damascus.

We know he remembers being there and being forgiven by Stephen because he talks about it later.

I suspect he thinks about it often.

He knows what it is like to be forgiven in a way made possible only by the power of the resurrection. 

He knows what is to have his life transformed by the power of the God of resurrection.

Conclusion:   Easter possibilities from the God of resurrection. 

God calls us to live into them.